April 15, 2022
"Witch" for something; you may get it. The Witchling's cozy mountaintop house contains the usual witchy accoutrements--bats, a cauldron, a book of spells. But these don't compensate for what she really wants--a friend. The Witchling finds a recipe for conjuring one but notices she's lacking one ingredient: fur from a one-eyed teddy bear. In her mind's eye, the Witchling envisions a fearsome creature, but she musters courage and whooshes off on her broom to locate it--and lands in the bed of a little girl, the animal's owner. After the Witchling warns her to beware of bears, the girl explains her dearly loved (stuffed) pal is harmless and will gladly donate his last hair to the cause. The Witchling demurs, recognizing the unbreakable bond between girl and cherished toy while joyfully realizing that, through kindness, she's found true friendship, too. Friendship stories aren't new, but this sweet British import, told in lively verses that scan well, will find a receptive audience. Children will enjoy poring over details of the Witchling's cozy home and appreciate the easy camaraderie the protagonists quickly develop. The charming illustrations, rendered in watercolor, pencil, printed-pattern collage, and Photoshop, feature a light-skinned witch sporting an oversize green, star-bedecked hat; her new friend is brown-skinned. Type that often meanders playfully on pages and employs large capitals for dramatic effect enhances the child appeal. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Reassuring and endearing. (Picture book. 4-7)
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July 1, 2022
Preschool-Grade 2 Outfitted in a lime-green dress and "a not-so-pointy hat," Witchling tidies her cave home, which she amiably shares with bats, beetles, a lizard, a plump blue owl, and a smattering of red-capped toadstools. Despite these creature comforts, she longs for a friend of the human variety and sets about crafting a spell for this purpose. Missing only "some furriness from a . . . one-eyed teddy bear," the little witch mounts her broom to procure the final ingredient for her spell. She streaks across a star-flecked sky until she is unexpectedly bucked through an open bedroom window, toppling onto another girl (Lily) asleep with the very bear Witchling needs. After some momentary confusion and a generous offer from Lily, Witchling realizes she's made a friend without even casting her spell. Unfolding in metered rhyme, this darling tale shines brightest in its detailed, whimsical illustrations. Massini uses watercolor washes, pencil, and printed-pattern collage to conjure an imaginative fairy-tale setting, and fruity colors in blueberry, strawberry pink, and cantaloupe provide uplift. Making friends was never sweeter.
COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from August 1, 2022
PreS-Gr 1-Little Witchling, pale-skinned and peachy-cheeked with straight black hair, lives all alone in her cave "above the misty mountains, below the glowing moon," and has only one wish: for a friend. But when she tries to "magic" a friend, her spell needs one more ingredient-the hair from a bear! Little does she know the perfect last hair is waiting not on a fierce bear, but on a little girl's favorite teddy. Can she bring herself to take it from a small girl, Lola (who has brown skin with curly black hair)? Fraser's (The Littlest Yak) rhyming text has enough surprises to make readers chuckle and just enough poignancy to make them sigh. The simple plot allows Massini's illustrations, done in watercolor, pencil, printed pattern collage, and Photoshop, to shine. The pages swirl with magical details-a bat, an owl, a cauldron, a boot-while readers follow Little Witch's oversized glowing green hat through the story. The book design itself is outstanding. The text reads like poetry that's all but tangible as words drip, drip, drip down the page, whirl around the cauldron, and whoosh off into the night. VERDICT Delightful, poignant, sweet, and funny, this deceptively simple book will have readers spellbound. Recommended.-Hillary Perelyubskiy
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
August 22, 2022
A lonely young Witchling’s plan to conjure a friend goes gently awry in this sweet-natured, jauntily rhyming tale. The Witchling, portrayed with pale skin, doesn’t mind the bed beetles or dripping ceiling of her cozily appointed cave home, but she longs for a friend to take up the emptiness in her heart. Though her spell book has just the recipe, when she flies off in search of a special ingredient—“some furriness” from a one-eyed teddy bear—a crash landing offers friendship in another child, portrayed with brown skin. Fraser’s bouncy text carries readers through the night sky at a good clip, while Massini’s playful mixed-media artwork introduces two winning characters turned kindred spirits. Ages 3–6.
September 1, 2022
A lonely little witch who lives in a cozy cave wants to magic herself a friend, but she's missing a key ingredient for her spell: "some furriness from a one-eyed teddy bear." She imagines a "huge and hairy...extremely scary" creature; nevertheless, she's determined to do whatever it takes and bravely heads out on her broom. Her crystal ball guides her to young Lily and her (not terrifying) well-loved bear, Ted, who work their own friendship magic on the witchling: "That's what a friend would do! / You thought of me, you thought of Ted, / you didn't think of...YOU!" Fraser's warm rhyming text and Massini's fanciful mixed-media illustrations cast an inviting spell. Kitty Flynn
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 1, 2022
A lonely little witch who lives in a cozy cave wants to magic herself a friend, but she's missing a key ingredient for her spell: "some furriness from a one-eyed teddy bear." She imagines a "huge and hairy...extremely scary" creature; nevertheless, she's determined to do whatever it takes and bravely heads out on her broom. Her crystal ball guides her to young Lily and her (not terrifying) well-loved bear, Ted, who work their own friendship magic on the witchling: "That's what a friend would do! / You thought of me, you thought of Ted, / you didn't think of...YOU!\" Fraser's warm rhyming text and Massini's fanciful mixed-media illustrations cast an inviting spell.
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)